Cosmetic case



Dec. 9, 1969 M. A. FLAX 3,482,728

' COSMETIC CASE Filed May 13, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MARTHA A. FLAX ATTORNEYS Dec. 9, 1969 M. A. FLAX 3,482,728

COSMETIC CASE INVENTOR. MARTHA A. FLAX ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,482,728 COSMETIC CASE Martha A. Flax, -56 Bell Blvd., Bayside, N.Y. 11360 Filed May 13, 1968, Ser. No. 728,493 Int. Cl. A45d 40/22; B65d 43/18, 1/24 US. Cl. 220- 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates generally to carrying cases for cosmetics and more particularly to an improved cosmetic case characterized by a comparatively extensive storage capacity.

Cosmetics currently available include make-up intended specifically for the face, eyes and lips, as well as appropriate brushes for applying this make-up. Further, it is not unusual for the average user to carry all these specialized types of make-up and to suffer the inconvenience of the collective bulk and weight of separate carrying cases for these cosmetics. As a solution to this dilemma, there have been various attempts to provide a single carrying case with sufiicient capacity for all the cosmetics and these attempts have met with varying degrees of success. In all these known attempts, the increase in cosmetic storage capacity has correspondingly increased the complexity of the parts as well as the difiiculty of assembling the product.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to pro vide an improved cosmetic case overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provide a cosmetic case having a noteworthy capacity for the compact storage of an extensive supply of cosmetics and yet characterized by a simplified construction, ease of assembly, and the use of individual parts which readily lend themselves to economical mass production.

A cosmetic case demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes a cover and a base respectively provided with a cooperating snap-together circular groove and projection and which cover and base, in their engaged position, define a large capacity internal cosmetic storage compartment. Rotative movement of the cover relative to the base selectively exposes the various cosmetics efiiciently stored in the internal compartment, the cooperating groove and projection, in this instance, not only being effective to prevent inadvertent disengagement but also to guide the cover in rotative movement;

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cosmetic case according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is similarly a perspective view, but of the various parts thereof in an exploded disassembled condition to better illustrate the structural features thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cosmetic case, with the cover thereof partially broken away to show the cosmetic contents;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view, in section 3,482,728 Patented Dec. 9, 1969 taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1, illustrating further internal structural features thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial elevational view of a second embodiment of the base of the cosmetic case; and

FIG. 6 is an isolated perspective view of a third embodiment of the base.

Reference is now made to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-4, wherein there is shown a cosmetic case, generally designated 10, demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention. In this preferred embodiment, the case 10 does not exceed four and one-half inches in diameter and yet contains several colors of cosmetic masses, such as lipstick 10a, eye make-up 10b, face make-up 10c and even several types of brushes 12 for applying these cosmetic masses. The structural features contributing to the compactness of the case 10 are thus noteworthy and, additionally, these features also facilitate assembly of the various parts thereby permitting the production of the case 10 as an economical mass produced unit.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the cosmetic case 10 includes four parts, three of which are preferably injection molded plastic articles of manufacture and comprise a base 14, a main cover 16 and an auxiliary cover 18. The fourth element is a thin-walled plastic tray 20 which preferably is vacuum molded and includes appropriately shaped and located recesses 20a, which are filled with the previously noted cosmetic masses 10a-c.

Base 14, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, includes a flat, circular bottom wall 14a having an upstanding continuous circular wall 14b located just slightly inwardly of its peripheral edge. Wall 14b bounds, on one side, an internal storage compartment for housing the tray 20 and, on its opposite side, has an outwardy facing circular groove 14d, the significance of which groove will soon be apparent. At the medial portion of the bottom wall 14a there is a raised circular section 14a which, in the assembly 'of the case 10, is projected through a central opening 2% in the tray 20.

The section 14e, in an actual embodiment, is one inch in diameter and thus the fiat top surface 14] thereof, which projects through the opening 20b, is of a sufficient extent to effectively serve as a bearing surface for the pivotally mounted auxiliary cover 18. That is, section 14e has an opening 14g which, in practice, is adapted to receive in a force fit a depending projection 18a of the cover 18 such that cover 18 can partake of pivotal movement relative to the base 14 while being adequately supported at one end on the fiat surface 14 and, at its other end, on the top of wall 1%, all as is best shown in FIG. 4. i V

Completing the cosmetic case 10 is the previously noted main cover 16 which includes an upper wall 16a having an access opening 16b to the tray 20 positioned within the internal compartment 140 and'which opening 16b is substantially the same shape as the cover 18 but slightly smaller in extent. Depending from the periphery of the Wall 16a is a circular rim or wall which has on its inner face, as best shown in FIGS. l-5, a circular, rounded projection 16d which will be understood to be of an appropriate size so as to snap in place within the previously noted circular groove 14d when the cover 16 is placed in its operative position over the base 14. Completing the cover 16 is a raised auxiliary storage compartment 12a for the brushes 12 formed by upstanding walls 16c. A cover 12b is appropriately hinged, as at 12c, to one of the walls 160 and advantageously has an elongated mirror 22 secured to its under-surface either by being snapped in a friction fit within a depending peripheral ridge which frames the mirror or by being adhesively secured to this under-surface.

The raised compartment 12a, as shown in the drawings, occupies an area coextensive with the diameter of the cover 16 such that the side walls 16c conveniently serve as a hand grip or turning handle for manipulating the cover 16 through rotative movement relative to the base 14, all as will be subsequently explained in detail.

The cosmetic case is readily assembled by first arranging the various elements thereof in the order illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, tray with the cosmetic masses 10a-c is placed within the storage compartment 14d with the raised section 142 projecting through the tray opening 2%. Next, the auxiliary cover 18 is set in place by snapping the depending projection 18a into the opening 14g such that the cover 18 is freely pivotal about the axis of the projection 18a while spanning the fiat surface 14f and the top of the circular wall 14b. The friction fit of the projection 18a within the opening 14g is not needed to prevent disengagement of the cover 18 from the cosmetic case but only as a preferred economical way of maintaining the cover 18 in its closed position within the cover opening 16b. As the final assembly step, cover 16 is placed over and forced onto the base 14 until the cover projection 16d snaps into the annular groove 14d. Once the cooperating projection 16d and groove 14d are in engaging relation, as clearly shown in FIG. 4, not only is inadvertent disengagement of the cover 16 from the base 14 minimized but the groove 14d serves as a guide for rotative movement of the cover 16 relative to the base 14. Thus, while the user of the case holds the base 14 against rotation, rotation of the cover 16 selectively exposes the cosmetic masses 10a-c beneath the transparent auxiliary cover 18. When the cosmetic mass desired by the user is reached, the user simply pushes against the upstanding grip 18b and pivots the cover 18 into an open position in the opening 1611 thereby gaining ready access to the cosmetic masses of the tray 20. The hand grip 1812, by virtue of abutting against an edge of opening 16b during counter-clockwise rotation of the cover 16, also permits the user to inspect the tray 20 through the transparent cover 18 while the cover 18 is maintained in its closed position during such counter-clockwise rotation.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment for the base 14 in which similar structural features are designated by the same but primed reference numerals. The same reference numerals, however, are used for the cover 16 since it is identical in all respects to the cover already described. 'Base 14 differs from the previously described base only in that the outer surface of the upstanding wall 14b is appropriately tapered to facilitate snapping the cover projection 16d into place within the groove 14d.

In FIG. 6 still another embodiment for the base is shown which, except for one significant modification, is designated by the same but double primed reference numerals. Here again the modification is intended to facilitate snapping the cover 16 in place over the base 14" and consists of molding the circular wall 14b not as a continuous element but rather as individual wall sections circumferentially spaced about the base 14". Thus, adjacent wall sections have a clearance space C therebetween which enables slight radial compression to the extent of the clearance spaces C and, in the obvious manner, facilitates snapping the cover 16 about the upstanding wall 14b" of the base.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features.

4 What is claimed is: 1. A combined cosmetic case and cosmetic brush container comprising a base member including a circular upstanding wall bounding, on one side, an internal cosmetic storage compartment and, on the other side, having an outwardly facing groove therein, and a cover for said internal cosmetic storage compartment including a plurality of upstanding walls forming a raised compartment for cosmetic brushes and a circular depending wall having an inwardly facing projection thereon, said cover having an operative position on said base with said projection and said groove in engaging relation to minimize inadvertent disengagement of said cover from said base while simultaneously guiding said cover in rotative movement relative to said base, said raised storage compartment having a pivotable top member and occupying an area coextensive with a diameter of said cover so that the walls of said compartment serve as a turning handle for said cover.

2. A cosmetic case as defined in claim 1 wherein said base circular upstanding wall is comprised of circumferentially arranged independent wall sections which bound a clearance space therebetween so as to enable a radial compression in said wall during the Operative positioning of said cover on said base.

, 3. A cosmetic case comprising a base member including a circular upstanding wall bounding, on one side, an internal storage compartment and, on the other side, having an outwardly facing groove therein, a cover for said internal cosmetic storage compartment having an opening therein providing access to said internal cosmetic storage compartment and including a circular depending wall having an inwardly facing projection thereon, said cover having an operative position on said base with said projection and said groove in engaging relation to minimize inadvertent disengagement of said cover from said base while simultaneously guiding said cover in rotative movement relative to said base, and a closure member for said cover access opening arranged in an interposed position between said cover and said base and mounted for pivotal movement relative to said cover and said base, said base having a raised medial section provided with an opening therein and said closure member having a depending projection accommodated in said opening to permit said pivotal movements of said closure member.

4. A cosmetic case as defined in claim 3 including a raised storage compartment formed in said cover effectively serving as a turning handle for said cover.

5. A cosmetic case as defined in claim 3 wherein said base circular upstanding wall is comprised of circ-umferentially arranged independent wall sections which bound a clearance space there-between so as to enable a radial compression in said wall during the operative positioning of said cover on said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,236,224 3/ 1941 Raschkind 206-42 3,143,207 8/ 1964 Wagner 206-42 FOREIGN PATENTS 299,873 6/ 1954 Switzerland.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. l3279; 20638 

